Releasable rope socket with weight indicator



March 18, 1952 J BOND AL 2,589,599

RELEASABLE ROPE SOCKET WITH WEIGHT INDICATOR Filed Dec. 7, 1946 2SHEETSSHEET 1 JOHN L. M/

attorney March 18 j BOND ET AL RELEASABLE ROPE SOCKET WITH WEIGHTINDICATOR Filed Dec. 7, 194a I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 @[NEQATOQ I 9 i 9 9 Pany, 56 4a 4 66 Imneutors JOHN L. l V/LEY JOHN A. Eon/0 a Patented Mar.18, 1952 RELEASABLE ROPE SOCKET WITH WEIGHT INDICATOR J ohn- A. Bond andJohn L. Wiley, Houston, Tex., assignors to. McCullough Tool Company, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporationof Nevadav Application December'l,1946,.Seria'liNo. 714,814

(Cl. 73l41) 8 Claims.

. This invention relates to means formoving. members, tools, or otherdevices, in awell, by: use of a suspension means, such as astringof.

tubing or a cable,- and relates. in particular to a connection for usebetween the suspension means.

and the part which is. lowered into and/or; removed from the well,whereby the suspension means may bedisconnected from the part should itbecome stuck in the well- Although not limitedto such use, the presentinvention has especial utility. as a means for connecting a member tothe lower end of acable.

or rope which serves as a suspension element whereby the member may belowered intothe well and later removed. It isan objectoftheinvention toprovide a connector of thischaracterhaving parts which will separate inresponseto ex:-- cessive torque or axial stress, thereby. releasing.the-lower end of the suspension meansfromthe member and avoiding. thepossibility of break ing the suspension means at some intermediatepoint. As an example of the utility'of the inven-- tion, the followingis recited. When a member,v such as a tool, lowered into awell on avcable, becomes stuck in the well, pull uponthecable in an attempt torelease the member may result in breakage of the cable at anintermediate point,

leaving in the well that portion of the cable bet-- low the point at.which the break occurs. In order to remove the member from,the'welLjitist necessary to first remove the cable so that the v stuckmember may be engaged by a fishing tool situated at the lower end of astring of tubing; this operation involving considerable: difilculty;

Where the present invention is used. excessivestress applied to theconnector, but belowthe breaking stress of the suspensionmeans,.,results' in disconnection of the. lower end of the.sus---pension means from the member, thus leaving :a: clean part in the wellwhich can be easily're covered by fishing methodsalready. well known:

to the industry.

It is an object of the invention to provide 'a connector of thecharacter set forth inrthelpreced ing paragraph having in associationtherewith. means for indicating to a worker at .the'i-top'; of

the well when an abnormal stress hasabeenapfplied to the connector.

tothe'upper end of the suspension means, thereby making it possible forthe operator to determinewhether the suspension means or thememberin'the well is stuck or retarded. The indicating means associatedwith the connector measures the weight of the tool which is carried bythe-lower end of the suspension means. When, in moving downward, thetool passes from air or gasinto a body of liquid, the apparent weight ofthetool will be diminished and the indicating meansat the top of thewell will make this fact known to the operator. If the weight shown bythe indicator at the top of the well drops'to a low value, the operatorwill bethereby informed that the downward progress of the tool has beenretarded, and if the indicated weight drops to zero value, he will knowthat the tool has met with an obstruction in the well and/ or has becomestuck.

purpose of freeingv the tool before it has becomestuck-to an'extentpreventing its release by upward pull exerted by the suspension means.-

Oil wells, if they are of any material depth, are crooked; therefore,the suspension means is brought into frictional contact with the wall ofwell-at a number of points. This friction in-' creasestheloud ontheupper end of the suspension means when upward force is applied topull it fromthewell. Previously, the operator had nomeansof determininghow much of the load on. the cable was caused by the tool or by frictionon the-cableat a point or points between the tooland the surface of theground. In the use of our invention, when the load on the upper end of.the cable isgreat, the operator may immediately determine whatproportion of this-load may beattributed to the tool. Upon finding thatthe excess load on the upper end of the cable is caused'by sticking ofthe tool, the operator'may, by continuing the pull on the cable,increase the pull onthe connector, while observing the weight indicatorsat-the'top of the well, and may release the connector, whereupon theentire length of the cable maybe withdrawnfrom the well, leaving.

the well between the tool and the surface unobstructed so that suitable,fishingmeans may be loweredinto thewell for the purpose of removing thetool.

It 1573. furtherfo'bject of: the invention to provide a connector of thecharacter described herein having in association therewith an electricalcircuit which extends to the top of the well, therebeing means at theconnector operative in re sponse-to strain onthe connector for varyingat least one of the electrical values in the circuit, and indicatingmeans at the top of the well, utilizing such variations as a means forindicating strain applied to the connector.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out inthe following part of the specification, wherein we have employeddetailed and specific description for the purpose of fully disclosingthe invention without limiting the scope thereof set forth in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a schematic view showing a form of our invention in a well.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the section of theconnector indicated by a in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the electrical constituents of theinvention.

For the purpose of showing the utility of an embodiment of ourinvention, we have in Fig. 1 schematically depicted a, well casing H]which, in accordance with normal conditions, has a number of bends I ltherein, and have shown in the lower part of the casing ID a member l2,shown specifically as a perforating gun, suspended from the lower end ofa cable l3 by means of a releasable cable or rope socket |4. Owing tothe well being crooked, the cable I3 drags across the bends H in thecasing I0.

As shown in Fig. l, the releasable socket or connector l4 comprises ashell |5 having at the lower end thereof a fitting It provided with athreaded pin IT for connection to the upper end of the gun |2. As shownin Fig. 2, the shell l5 includes a lower cylindric body 18, the lowerend of which is connected to the fitting l6 and the upper end of whichhas an internally threaded box |9 to receive the threaded pin 29 at thelower end of an upper cylindric body 2|. A sleeve 22 is threaded intothe upper end of the body 2|. This sleeve 22 has thereon serrations 23adapted to be engaged by a fishing tool. In the lower part of the body2| there is a bore 24 separated by a shoulder 25 from a bore 26 oflarger diameter. In the upper part of the bore 24 there is a bushing 21having a flange 28 which is forced against the shoulder 25 by a heavyspring 29 held in compression in the bore 26 between the upper end ofthe sleeve 27 and the lower end of the sleeve 28 which is threaded intothe upper end of the body 2|.

The cable I3 is secured in a tubular mandrel 39 slidably disposed in thesleeve 22 and having a diametrally reduced stem 3| which extendsdownwardly through the bore 26 and is of such length that its lower end32 lies within the bushing 21. The lower end 32 of the stem 3| hastherein a recess 33 which receives a portion of a ball 34, the outerportion of this ball 34 occupying an opening 35 in the bushing 21 at apoint within the bore 24 of the upper cylindric body 2 The recess 33,ball 34, and the opening 35 cooperate in forming a latch for preventingdisengagement from the cylindric body of the mandrel from the shell partI5 of the connector l4. When an upward pull is exerted upon the cablel3, or, conversely, when a downward force is applied to the shell l5,the resulting relative movement of the mandrel 39 will move the bushing21 toward the sleeve 22, thereby compressing the spring 29. Should themagnitude of the force exerted be sufficient to move the opening of thebushing 2? upwardly past the shoulder 25, the ball 34 will be permittedto move radially outwardly in the lower part of the bore 26, and out ofthe recess 33 in the lower end 32 of the stem 3|, permitting the mandrel30 to move upwardly out of the sleeve 22. When there is minimumseparating force or strain applied to the connector parts l5 and 39, thespring 29 will hold the bushing 21 in the position in which it is shownin Fig. 2, the mandrel being then in what is referred to as the firstposition thereof with relation to the shell l5. As the stress, tendingto separate the parts |5 and 39 is increased, the part 30 will moverelatively upwardly toward a second position which is reached when theopening 35 of the bushing 21 has passed the shoulder 25 so as to permitthe ball 34 to move radially outwardly and thereby release the part 30so that it may be disconnected from the part |5. Since the part 39 ismoved upwardly against the compression of the spring 29, its movementrelatively to the shell |5 will be proportionate to the stress applied.In the present invention the movement of the part 39 relatively to thepart I5 is employed as an indication of the application of stress, andthe extent of compression of the spring 29 is employed as a measure ofthe applied stress. In carrying out this conception, we connect to thelower end of the stem 3| by means of a brass block 31, an iron pin orarmature 38 which extends into the upper end of an inductance winding 39supported on an insulator 40 in the cavity of the lower cylindric bodyN3 of the shell |5.

In the form of the invention shown, the cable l3 has therein aninsulated electrical conductor 4| which is extended down from the lowerend of the cable and from the lower end of the pin 3! of the mandrel 30into the member l8 so that it may be connected by a conductor 42 to theupper end of the inductance winding 39. This inductance winding 39 isshown as consisting of upper and lower sections 39a and 3% which areconnected in series by a conductor 43. A conductor 44 extends from thelower end of the section 39?) of the inductance winding 39 and iscarried downwardly through the shell l5 to the gun I2, as will befurther explained with relation to Fig. 4, wherein we have schematicallyshown the electrical parts of the invention.

In Fig. 4 we have provided an oscillation generator 45 of thermionictype. For output of oscillating current therefrom, this generator 45 hasa transformer 49, the secondary winding 41 of which is in series with acircuit 48 which includes in series the inductance coil or winding 39previously described with relation to Fig. 2. On the left side thiscircuit 48 includes a conductor 49, an inductance 50, a variableresistance 5|, 2. conductor 52, a switch 53, and a conductor 54 whichincludes the insulated conductor 4| of the cable |3. As shown in thelower part of Fig. 4, the conductor 44 which leads downwardly from theinductance winding 39 connects to the upper end of a gun firing means 55and a choke coil 56 arranged in parallel in the body of the gun |2, thelower ends of these parts 55 and 56 being connected to a ground 51,which may consist of the metal body or shell parts of the gun I2 and theconnector l4 and the sheath of the cable |3. The right hand side of theoscillating circuit 48 comprises a conductor 58 which is connected to aground 59, and the electrical ground parts referred to in the precedingsentence. In the form of the invention shown, the operating currentdelivered by the secondary 41 of the transformer 46 is 1000 cycles andof relatively low voltage, such, for example, as 7 volts. In cooperationwith the inductance 50 and the variable resistance 5| a variablecondenser assembly 60 is bridged thereacross, as shown. A B battery 6|is provided for the generator 45, this B battery (it being in serieswith a circuit 62 including a switch 63 disposed in ganged relation tothe switch 53, so that when the switch 53 is opened, the switch 63 willbe likewise opened.

For measurement of the current flow in the oscillating circuit 48, abridge circuit 64 is provided, this bridge circuit including a conductor65,. the upper end of which is connected. through a potentiometer 66with the conductors Hand 58 of the circuit 48. The lower end of theconductor 65 is connected through a rectifier 61 and aconductor 68 withthe conductor 52. TheD. C. output circuit to of the rectifier 61 is inseries with a direct current meter H, and this circuit 10 is adjustableso as to include resistance 12 or a direct connection 13, either ofwhich parts 12 or 13 may be included separately in the circuit III byadjustment of a switch 14. For balancing the meter H, a balancingcircuit i5 is provided, this balancing circuit i5 including a source ofelectrical potential shown as a battery 75 and a switch 11 which is inganged relation to the switches 53 and 63. A firing switch 18 for thegun I2 is provided in ganged relation to the switches 53, 63 and 11. Thepurpose of this switch 78 is to connect to the conductor 54 a source offiring current or potential 80 when a switch button 8| is pressedinwardly (leftwardly) so as to open the switches 53, 63, and H and closethe switch 18.

In the operation of the invention, the variable inductance, comprisingthe winding 39 and the axially movable armature 38, varies theoscillating current flow in accordance with the deflection of the spring29, Fig. 2, of the connector which is suspended in the well at the lowerend of the cable l3. In the arrangement shown, the bridge circuits areeasily balanced so that any small weight put on the lower part of theconnector will at once cause an upscale reading on the instrument meterH as a result of a slight movement of the coil 39 away from the plunger38. Reduction of stress on the connector l4, tending to separate theparts l5 and 30, will, of course, cause the meter to return toward or tozero reading. Information of this character is obtained preferably whenthe meter H is connected into the circuit 10 through the directconnection 13. The switch 14 may be adjusted so as to connect the meterH through the resistance 12, so that the meter will operate through alow sensitivity range, and the meter may be calibrated so that it willshow the full range of force applied, tending to separate the parts 15and 39 from minimum value when the flange 28 of the bushing 21 is inengagement with the shoulder 25 to maximum value wherein the spring 29is deflected sufficiently to bring the ball 34 upwardly beyond theshoulder 25, at which time the latch, comprising the parts 33, 34, 35,will release the part 30.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a means for connecting a suspension element to a member which islowered into a well, the combination of: first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother Of which is connectible to said member; resiliently constitutedmeans conncctlngsaid parts together and releasing said parts in responseto a predetermined strain therein resulting from stress received fromsaid connector parts and strain responsive means at the lower end of thesuspension element for measuring the strain in said resilientlyconstituted means and an indicator at the top of the well operativelyassociated with said strain responsive means adapted to indicate strainin saidresiliently constituted means as an indicationof the stresstransmitted from one of said connector parts to the other.

2 In a means for connecting a suspension element to amember which islowered into a well. the combination of: first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother of which is connectible to said member; latch means connectingsaidv parts together; resilient means for holding said latch inoperative condition and releasing the same in response to a releasingstrain therein under stress received from said parts-i and strainresponsive means at the lower end of the suspension element formeasuring the strain in saidresilient means and an indicator at the topof the well operatively associated with said strain responsive meansadapted to indicate strain in said resilient means in the range ofvalues below said releasing strain.

3. In a means for connecting a suspension element to a member which islowered into a well, the combination of first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother of which is connectible to said member, said parts being movablerelatively to each other between first and second positions; means forreleasably holding said parts together comprising a latch, yieldablemeans for resisting movement of said parts from said first position tosaid second position, said latch being so formed that it will releasesaid parts when they reach said second position thereof; and means forindicating to a worker at the top of the well movement of said partsbetween said first and second positions thereof.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said indicating meanscomprises an electrical circuit including a means in proximity to saidparts operating when there is relative movement of said parts to changeat least one of the electrical values of said circuit, and indicatingmeans at the top of the well for showing said change.

5. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said indicating meanscomprises an oscillating electrical circuit including a variableinductance means in proximity to said parts operating when there isrelative movement of said parts to change the electrical flow in saidcircuit, and indicating means at the top of the well for showing saidchange.

6. In a means for connecting a suspension element to a member which islowered into a well, the combination of: first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother of which is connectible to said member, said parts being movablerelatively to each other between first and second positions; means forreleasably holding said parts together comprising a latch, and a springfor resisting movement of said parts from said first position to saidsecond position, said latch being so formed that it will release saidparts when they reach said second position thereof; and means adapted toindicate the defiection of said spring.

7. In a means for connecting a suspension element to a member which islowered into a well, the combination of: first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother of which is connectible to said member; a releasable latch forholding said parts together; means adapted to release said latch inresponse to a predetermined force applied tending to separate saidconnector parts, said means comprising a resilient member connected sothat it will be deformed in accordance with the change in magnitude ofsaid force tending to separate said connector parts; and means having anindicator at the top of the well adapted to indicate the deformation ofsaid resilient member.

8. In a means for connecting a suspension element to a member which islowered into a well, the combination of: first and second cooperatingconnector parts, one of which is connectible to said element and theother of which is connectible to said member, said parts being movablerelatively to each other between first and second positions; resilientmeans disposed between said connector parts so as to resist movement ofsaid connector parts from said first to said second position, saidresilient means being deformed in accordance with the movement of saidconnector parts from said first to said second position; and meanshaving an indicator at the top of the well adapted to indicate the.deformation of said resilient member, said last named means having aportion in th well acting to measure the deformation of said resilientmeans, and said indicator at the top of the well being adapted toindicate the measure of said deformation.

JOHN A. BOND.

JOHN L. WILEY,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,018,328 Lee Feb. 20, 19121,153,653 Voorhees Sept. 14, 1915 1,384,489 Shaffer July 12, 19211,429,312 Augenstein Sept. 19, 1922 1,718,494 Schurig June 25, 19292,284,364 Breazeale May 26, 1942 2,298,216 Lamberger Oct. 6, 19422,382,279 Wolf Aug. 14, 1945

